After years of rocketing prices, the subcontinent is looking affordable again. Richard Green hunts down the best deals

Airline routes were launched to dozens of new cities, oversubscribed posh hotels put their rates up and up and up, and there seemed no limit to the number of high-spending visitors. But then came the Mumbai attacks and the recession, and everything changed.

Suddenly, India is... well, not cheap, but a lot better value than before. As visitor numbers have plummeted, the airlines have slashed their fares to fill seats. The new hotels that opened to take advantage of the boom are offering attractively low rates in an effort to generate business.

The more established hotels tend to care a lot about appearances, so have kept their published room rates stubbornly high - but many are quietly giving substantial discounts to tour operators, who will pass them on in the form of cheaper packages. Here's our guide to those subcontinental bargains.